Thursday night linkage…
- The Tigers could be in play for Johnny Damon, tweets SI's Jon Heyman. The 36-year-old has a .961 OPS at pitcher-friendly Comerica Park.
- The White Sox formally announced today that they have invited fifteen players to Spring Training – ten of which from within the organization. Outfielder Jordan Danks, younger brother of John Danks, is one of the more notable invitees.
- Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com takes a look at the Indians' bullpen in 2010. It should come as no surprise that Kerry Wood and his hefty contract are unlikely to be moved. Wood is set to earn $10.5MM in 2010 with a vesting option for $11MM in 2011 if he finishes 55 games.
Huff went to the Giants, didn’t he?
Yeah, not sure what the article is trying to say
Yes, he did.
Yeah…what?
Huff went to the Giants not the Tigers
“After the signing of Aubrey Huff, it’s somewhat surprising to hear that Detroit could still have space for the 36-year-old.”
Except the Giants signed Huff, which has no bearing on the Damon/Tigers situation…
Damon to the Braves seems REALLY unlikely, I just don’t see how it could happen
seems very likely to me at this point.
How so?
Well the Braves seem like a better fit than anybody else. The Yankees just dont seem whilling to spend any money on Damon. The Braves dont have a clear LF and I think Damon would be better than a Diaz/Melky platoon.. And also improves some other aspects of the lineup by moving McLouth to the 2-spot and leaving Yunel in the 6-hole where they both should do better and have more RBI opportunities.
There is no question that Damon is a good fit, but there is no money left. None.
There is no question that Damon is a good fit, but there is no money left. None.
Well the Braves seem like a better fit than anybody else. The Yankees just dont seem whilling to spend any money on Damon. The Braves dont have a clear LF and I think Damon would be better than a Diaz/Melky platoon.. And also improves some other aspects of the lineup by moving McLouth to the 2-spot and leaving Yunel in the 6-hole where they both should do better and have more RBI opportunities.
Heyman is doing his best to pump up Damon for Boras.
I thought the Tigers got rid of Gary Sheff last year so the didn’t have a guy that couldn’t really play the field to well and so he wouldn’t block the DH spot for guys that needed a break. So why would they want Damon?
When you eat as much salary as the Tigers did, I think there are non-baseball issues that come into play as well.
The fact the continue to trot Maggs and Carlos out to the corners says they’re more then prepared to tolerate another below average outfielder. Who’s a better fielder at the moment? Maggs or Damon? The answer is pretty clear to me…
Maybe because after cutting Sheffield, they discovered the error of their ways? (i.e. missing out on a .372 OBP). Seriously though, that was a pretty terrible idea for a team that was hoping to compete. If the Red Sox could find a taker for Lowell, I would think the Tigers could have been able to move Sheff.
However, the difference in defense between Damon and Sheff is pretty considerably too. Damon, while bad (-12 UZR/150), is not hobbled like Sheffield (-30 UZR/150). You can at least play the guy responsibly.
Maybe because after cutting Sheffield, they discovered the error of their ways? (i.e. missing out on a .372 OBP). Seriously though, that was a pretty terrible idea for a team that was hoping to compete. If the Red Sox could find a taker for Lowell, I would think the Tigers could have been able to move Sheff.
However, the difference in defense between Damon and Sheff is pretty considerably too. Damon, while bad (-12 UZR/150), is not hobbled like Sheffield (-30 UZR/150). You can at least play the guy responsibly.
I’m surprised the White Sox are bringing in Daniel Cabrera on a minor league deal, I hadn’t heard about that. He’s a longshot to make the team, obviously, but he’s always intrigued me. If he ever gained any semblance of control he would be a monster.
And if Juan Pierre could only develop 30-homer power, he’d be a perennial All-Star. :-) We’ve been saying that about Cabrera for what, seven years?
Somebody step on your dog this morning?
I didn’t see anything wrong with Dave’s comment. He is right, at this point, Cabrera’s chances of becoming even a below average MLB pitcher are pretty unlikely. Dude looks like he’s completely lost it.
Cabrera never really had it in the first place.
Haha ya, I’m not saying it’s likely he will develop into anything. He’s a pretty big longshot to do anything given how frequently he issues walks. Just food for thought.
Haha, truth.
Nothing wrong just very pessimistic.
Nothing wrong just very pessimistic.
Steve – it was nothing personal, hence the smiley. I guess I get tired of hearing “if Cabrera can only start to find the strike zone” or “man, if Rich Harden and Ben Sheets could only stay healthy”…that sort of thing.
Additionally, if he keeps eating jelly donuts- he will also be a monster. But yah, Danny Cabrera is always intriguing though at this point I don’t think he’ll ever put it together. He used to have bad control, but now he has bad control and he seems to be losing velocity and fitness.
But in any event, that gives him 2 possible ways to be a monster. And that’s easily worth a contract.
if only the Tigers could find a proven, left-handed, plus-defensive outfielder with pop in the prime of his career, a budget-friendly contract and a great clubhouse and community presence. oh…
Raburn is classified as a “utility” but Im dumbfounded as to why he isn’t the everyday left fielder. Positive UZR numbers at LF, an .891 OPS and 16 HR’s in only 261 AB’s. Not to mention he is young and cost controlled.
For what it is worth Raburn was used almost entirely against left-handed pitching and has a relative small sample size in left-field. As it stands right now the Tigers currently have one left-handed hitter in their lineup and no one remotely close to resembling a lead-off hitter. Damon would fit the bill and give them some much needed speed. Raburn would still play 4 games a week spelling Guillen, Damon and Ordonez which could prevent his option from vesting.
For what it is worth Raburn was used almost entirely against left-handed pitching and has a relative small sample size in left-field. As it stands right now the Tigers currently have one left-handed hitter in their lineup and no one remotely close to resembling a lead-off hitter. Damon would fit the bill and give them some much needed speed. Raburn would still play 4 games a week spelling Guillen, Damon and Ordonez which could prevent his option from vesting.
Me too. I think if he gets full playing time for a year we could see some real growth. I think Raburn could develop into a very good everyday player
Me too. I think if he gets full playing time for a year we could see some real growth. I think Raburn could develop into a very good everyday player
Granderson was in his prime and was gonna go downhill in a few years. Besides the yanks ate his entire contract and they got a haul back
“Granderson was in his prime and was gonna go downhill in a few years”
ditto Verlander and Cabrera….when are they getting the ax?…just imagine the ‘haul’ they can get for Verlander…
wood to the cubs for twoAA prospect arms to setup for marmol. i love seeing this man in a cubs uni
Why not wait tell after the season. I do not think the Indians will let him finish 55 games this year. They might hold him out so they will not pay him for 11 million for 2011.
Why not wait tell after the season. I do not think the Indians will let him finish 55 games this year. They might hold him out so they will not pay him for 11 million for 2011.
I wouldn’t want to see Damon fielding in that ball park
I think Daniel Cabrera is a good depth signing if one of the pitchers goes down for a minute. I cant see why the Sox wouldnt be able to get him going. Not saying he is Greg Maddux but I think he has some sort of potential. Doesnt bother me a bit.
Would love to have seen Jordan Danks make the team but they have too many OF options as it is. I heard on MLB network that they are thinking of bringing back Thome. NOOO PLEASE NOOOO. Saw him look silly striking out too many times past two years to think he could be everyday DH. Maybe give him 300 ABs at most and sign him on the cheap but not just hand him the everyday job.
Anyone else chuckle silently at the “Not saying he is Greg Maddux” bit? Thome wouldn’t be awful for the Sox. I think he still has a little left.
Thome can still hit you around 30 HRS Im not disputing that at all. But he is too slow to get out of his own way and srtikes out at a ridiculous rate. Sure there are worse options but at some point you just have to move on from the slow plodding slugging dinosaurs.
Dusty?
30 per season, or 30 over the remainder of his career? And is there a difference? I have trouble seeing Thome being healthy enough to hit 30 in a season though personally. At some point you just get too gimpy to put at the plate.
I for one was glad that he mentioned that, because I often confuse the two. Thankfully, now there is now no room for ambiguity.
I for one was glad that he mentioned that, because I often confuse the two. Thankfully, now there is now no room for ambiguity.
It is a bit oddly timed that the day after it was mentioned that Scott Boras really needs a mystery team to pump up Damon’s value to the Braves, Heyman suddenly has one. Well timed Universe… well timed.
haha just what I was thinking.. I wonder how much Boras paid Heyman to come up with this breaking news.
haha just what I was thinking.. I wonder how much Boras paid Heyman to come up with this breaking news.
I don’t see the harm in bringing Thome in and having him hit against righty’s and Andruw Jones against lefties. Wouldn’t cost more than 2 mil either
I don’t see the harm in bringing Thome in and having him hit against righty’s and Andruw Jones against lefties. Wouldn’t cost more than 2 mil either
If the Tigers sign Johnny Damon instead of giving a shot to Casper Wells, Brennan Boesch, WIlkin Ramirez or even Clete Thomas (one last chance, that is), then they must know something I don’t about the rest of the AL Central this year…
If the Tigers sign Johnny Damon instead of giving a shot to Casper Wells, Brennan Boesch, WIlkin Ramirez or even Clete Thomas (one last chance, that is), then they must know something I don’t about the rest of the AL Central this year…
“Rich_in_NJ Heyman is doing his best to pump up Damon for Boras.”Heyman is a disgrace to the writing profession with all the ballwashing he does for Scott Boras and his clients. Then I see him on MLB Network saying there was no mystery team for Holliday, well of course not, you were the idiot operating as Boras’s mouthpiece. Now he seems obsessed with linking Damon to someone, how would Heyman know Damon’s #’s in Comerica unless someone gave it to him, hint, hint Boras, to try and drum up interest and maybe milk the Braves for a few extra coins offered to Damon. This is too obvious and pathetic. I doubt Heyman is sitting around looking up Damon’s numbers in Detroit at his lonesome. Being spoon fed like the mouthpiece he is for Boras. Hence this line the other day on this very subject. “Scott Boras is going to have to cook up a mystery team if he’s going to get the Braves to overpay for Damon.”
Put two and two together.
“Rich_in_NJ Heyman is doing his best to pump up Damon for Boras.”Heyman is a disgrace to the writing profession with all the ballwashing he does for Scott Boras and his clients. Then I see him on MLB Network saying there was no mystery team for Holliday, well of course not, you were the idiot operating as Boras’s mouthpiece. Now he seems obsessed with linking Damon to someone, how would Heyman know Damon’s #’s in Comerica unless someone gave it to him, hint, hint Boras, to try and drum up interest and maybe milk the Braves for a few extra coins offered to Damon. This is too obvious and pathetic. I doubt Heyman is sitting around looking up Damon’s numbers in Detroit at his lonesome. Being spoon fed like the mouthpiece he is for Boras. Hence this line the other day on this very subject. “Scott Boras is going to have to cook up a mystery team if he’s going to get the Braves to overpay for Damon.”
Put two and two together.
“The 36-year-old has a .961 OPS at pitcher-friendly Comerica Park. “—–Where is this “pitcher-friendly” idea coming from? Comerica has been neutral to slightly hitter-friendly. Park factors in 2007-2009: 1.05, 1.08, 1.03. link to espn.go.com
“The 36-year-old has a .961 OPS at pitcher-friendly Comerica Park. “—–Where is this “pitcher-friendly” idea coming from? Comerica has been neutral to slightly hitter-friendly. Park factors in 2007-2009: 1.05, 1.08, 1.03. link to espn.go.com
Damon can be a teacher for the young players for the Tigers. He can also replace Granderson and show the Yankees 6 times this year it is a bad mistake for letting him go.
Damon can be a teacher for the young players for the Tigers. He can also replace Granderson and show the Yankees 6 times this year it is a bad mistake for letting him go.
I wouldn’t want us to waste our money on Damon this year. But I agree with most people, I don’t think there is legitimate interest
I wouldn’t want us to waste our money on Damon this year. But I agree with most people, I don’t think there is legitimate interest
As a Tiger’s fan, I don’t understand this rumor at all. They’ve already got a crowded outfield with Jackson, Ordonez, Guillen, Raburn, Thomas, Ramirez, and Wells all competing for starting jobs. Maybe as a roadblock to get in Ordonez’s way of his 2011 option vesting? I don’t know…I just don’t understand this one…
having Thome and Konerko in the line up together,as we saw last year was a problem. When it takes 3 hits to score a run or the doule play opportunities for the opposition was unaccepable.The Sox do need a lefty with power,just a little more speed.Let Ozzie have the opportunity to play “Ozzie ball”, he now has the players in place to do so for the first time as a manager.Will Ozzie ball work tn a home run friendly park,I guess we’ll find out
having Thome and Konerko in the line up together,as we saw last year was a problem. When it takes 3 hits to score a run or the doule play opportunities for the opposition was unaccepable.The Sox do need a lefty with power,just a little more speed.Let Ozzie have the opportunity to play “Ozzie ball”, he now has the players in place to do so for the first time as a manager.Will Ozzie ball work tn a home run friendly park,I guess we’ll find out
Why not make Raburn the everyday LF? Even though his sampling size is really against mostly lefties, I think he could be a quality every day player if his defense improves in the outfield.